The powerful brothers Bajraktari of the White House

Ljupco Popovski

The photograph of still life in a White House office with a man last week was largely subject to derision in the Macedonian world of social interaction. DUI deputy Artan Grubi, trying to increase the perception of his importance in the world of domestic politics and the voters, stood behind the empty armchair and the office table of US Vice President Mike Pence. Saso Ordanoski gave an excellent title to his column “Artan Grubi, the seeker in his own identity,” but maybe somewhat underestimating pretentiously placed this “propaganda project” in connection with the “hygienist of the afternoon shift in the White House”.

True, this really looks like a hilarious “propaganda project,” but that propaganda is almost unlikely to be assisted by any of the White House staff in charge of the West Wing and who can miss uninvited guests in the world’s safest offices. There are few people in the White House who would allow Grubi to accomplish this personal project, and the circle can immediately be reduced to two – the powerful brothers Bajraktari, Ili and Ilber. The Macedonian public hardly knows anything about these two Albanians from Kosovo, who, after fleeing from their homeland during the NATO intervention in 1999, broke through with light speed in the highest peaks of US politics. For the elderly, Ili, Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic spoke in an interview with the Belgrade television station ‘Hepi’ after the December 1 meeting of national security adviser Herbert McMaster with the six heads of diplomats of the Western Balkan countries.

Dacic said that he was “a little surprised” when a forty-year-old man from General McMaster’s team came to him, greeted him and presented himself in fluent Serbian language: “Good afternoon, I’m from Kosovo and my name is Bajraktari.” Dacic, who answers almost every note in every meeting, remained speechless- who is this man in whom McMaster obviously has full confidence. Then he gave another dimension to the event in Belgrade: “It is now clear why America is pursuing such politics.”

The story of the two brothers is part of the stories about the American dream. Ilber was one of the hundreds of thousands of refugees in Macedonia who fled the military actions of the Slobodan Milosevic regime in Kosovo. Macedonia at that time was a hot spot for reporters from around the world, so Ilber managed to become a guide to the journalist team of the American TV network ABC. A few months later, the war ended, Milosevic acknowledged the defeat, and Ilber Bajraktari received an American refugee visa and left for Washington. Then he applied at the prestigious Princeton University, passed the tests, and finished his studies and a few years later. In the meantime, his elder brother, Ili, also arrived in the United States, who graduated from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Their great ambitions in the new country paved the way for great success.

The Bajraktari brothers became US citizens in 2004, and since 2007 they have begun to work as public servants in the military and intelligence world. The following year, Ilber worked in Iraq along with General David Petraeus, who then became the director of the CIA. At the same time, brother Ili begins to climb the ladder in the Pentagon. During the last years of Barack Obama’s administration, they were already in the ranks of the most trusted associates of then-Defense Minister Ashton Carter. Ilber became deputy chief of Carter’s Cabinet, tasked with getting the minister to receive in time the latest information on national security and foreign policy. Traveled abroad with Carter and attended all meetings that the Defense Minister had with foreign officials.

The elder brother Ili is a special assistant to Deputy Defense Minister Robert Work, taking part in the creation of US politics towards Afghanistan and India. Ilber is one of the key people in the Obama administration who was preparing a nuclear deal with Iran. It seems shocking that the important functions in the administration are given to two foreigner brothers, but this is America – knowledge and commitment are the price when it’s necessary. Carl Vogue, a former senior adviser to the defense minister, said two years ago that “I never heard a story about two brothers playing such an important role behind the Pentagon scene.” Eric Rosenbach, the head of Cabinet of Minister Carter then spoke: “They are two of the most dedicated people I have ever met. They defend US interests and do so in a way that brings an enlightened perspective on the role of America in the world. “Even famous journalist Bob Woodward in his book, “The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008” wrote that Ilber Bajraktari was involved by Generals Petraeus and McMaster in the team for drafting a new strategy for Iraq.

Then came the elections, the victory of Donald Trump and the exodus of officials from the Obama administration. The Bajraktari brothers remained in the Pentagon, and their fate turned when Trump’s scathing counsel for national security, Michael Flynn, had to resign after only 24 days and his successor became General Herbert McMaster. The two brothers were immediately seconded to the White House as McMaster’s most trusted people. The older brother Ili is now the right hand of McMaster, who decides which requirements can be addressed to the national security adviser. No one can reach McMaster if he does not get permission from Ili Bajraktari. Ilber Bajraktari is the senior director of defense policy at the National Security Council. “Ili’s story shows what America is doing great. He is an American patriot and was honored to work with him because he embodies the American spirit, “said Colin Cal, who served as national security adviser to former US Vice President Joe Biden. When late last year, Vice President Mike Pence was in Podgorica, the Bajraktari brothers were with him and he presented them in a special way. Recently, Atlantic magazine also wrote: “The Bajraktari brothers are two of the most important and best people in the government that you probably have not heard of.”

From the Balkan perspective, the Kosovo origin of the Bajraktari brothers is instantly associated with a certain inclination of Washington towards policies in this region. But only from a Balkan perspective. If the Bajraktari brothers would not be fully committed to the interests of their new homeland, the United States of America, they would never have reached the positions they were and of which they are now. Their knowledge and intellectual power are the main pass for the functions they perform. And yet another of the many evidence of the opportunities offered by America – you may lose yourself in the great battle for survival, but if you win, many gates open, no matter where you came from.